Israel engages Syrian forces on Golan border

Fire from Syrian forces hit Israeli army positions twice over the past 24 hours, prompting a harsh response from Israel that left two armed Syrians wounded.

Last Saturday night, at least one bullet fired from the Syrian side of the border hit an Israeli army patrol jeep. On Sunday morning, heavy gunfire hit a nearby Israeli army outpost.

Army officials said it was still difficult to determine if the gunfire was deliberately directed at Israel, or was simply spillover from fighting between pro-government and rebel forces in Syria.

Either way, Israeli officials said cross-border fire cannot be tolerated, and Israeli soldiers on Sunday responded by launching an anti-tank missile at the source of the gunfire, wounding two Syrians.

It is believed that both incidents of gunfire over the weekend came from sources loyal to embattled Syrian dictator Bashar Assad. However, most of the rebel forces fighting to oust Assad are allied with or part of terrorist organizations that are equally committed to Israel's destruction.

New Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon said defense along the border are being beefed up, and that Israel will continue to respond to each and every violation of its sovereignty.

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